that proved adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that proved adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was sufficient or satisfactory in a particular context or situation. Example: "The solution we implemented was challenging, but in the end, it proved adequate for our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jeffrey Clayton, NASA's deputy manager for the Hubble project, said that a primitive corrective system had been built into the Hubble telescope but that it had not proved adequate to overcome the instrument's flaw.

The New York Times

Some who gave evidence to the Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws suggested that the existing system had proved adequate and was more adaptable to local needs.

Wikipedia

Unfortunately, that approach has not proved adequate to overcome the challenges there.

The Guardian - Business

The pre-trained convolutional networks have already learnt to generate rich image representations that have proven adequate for image classification and segmentation.

Complex & Intelligent Systems

Years later, Sokal saw the Caton recommendations (which, he points out, "proved adequate for rhesus monkeys"), weighed them against other research findings, and concluded that cleaning teeth every second day is "satisfactory".

The Guardian

Despite the fact that no 3D structure has been solved for mammalian β-mannosidase, such an approach has been proved adequate by Khan and Ranganathan[ 11] to demonstrate the pathological role of mutations.

BMC Genomics

None had proved adequate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It proved adequate for many years.

The Economist

Kate Aldrich was appealing as Flora, and the rest of the cast proved adequate and often better.

The New York Times - Arts

As long as competition was stable and change moderate, this approach proved adequate.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A wide range of subsidies for electric vehicles has not yet proved adequate to offset this.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that proved adequate", ensure the context clearly establishes what "that" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures your writing is precise.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "that proved adequate" can sometimes sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "that was sufficient" or "that met the requirements", especially in formal writing. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that proved adequate" functions as a clause providing commentary or evaluation. It asserts that something, represented by "that", was demonstrated to be sufficient or suitable for a particular purpose or need. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that proved adequate" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey that something has been shown to be sufficient or suitable. According to Ludwig AI, it is a valid and usable phrase in English writing. While its usage can vary depending on the context, it generally serves to provide a retrospective assessment of adequacy. Given the limited number of examples, understanding its frequency across different contexts is challenging. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "that was sufficient" or "that met the requirements" to tailor the tone and emphasis to your specific writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was sufficient

Replaces "proved adequate" with a more direct synonym for sufficiency.

that turned out to be enough

Emphasizes the outcome or result of something being sufficient.

that sufficed

A more concise and formal way of saying something was adequate.

that met the requirements

Focuses on fulfilling specific needs or criteria.

that was satisfactory

Highlights the acceptability or satisfaction derived from something.

that did the trick

An informal way of saying something effectively solved a problem.

that was up to par

Indicates something met a standard or expectation.

that cut it

A colloquial expression for something being sufficient or acceptable.

that was equal to the task

Highlights the capability of something to handle a specific challenge.

that fit the bill

An idiomatic expression for something being exactly what is needed.

FAQs

How can I use "that proved adequate" in a sentence?

Use "that proved adequate" to describe something which, in retrospect, was sufficient for a specific purpose or requirement. For example: "The initial budget, though tight, "that proved adequate" for completing the project".

What are some alternatives to "that proved adequate"?

You can use alternatives such as "that was sufficient", "that met the requirements", or "that sufficed" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "that proved adequate" or "that was adequate"?

"That proved adequate" implies a demonstration or realization of adequacy over time, while "that was adequate" simply states a condition of being adequate. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the element of proving or simply state a fact.

What's the difference between "that proved adequate" and "that was enough"?

"That proved adequate" suggests a level of scrutiny or testing that confirmed its suitability, while "that was enough" is a more general statement of sufficiency without necessarily implying formal validation.